When Issue 62 of Mollie Makes dropped through the letterbox, it was a good one. See the text on the front saying “Kid’s Doll House”?
Easily missed, I know, but when I opened it onto the relevant page I did a little virtual skip – this would be the perfect present for a little three year old girl in the family.
A fold-out doll’s house, ideal for taking out and about to keep any little girl entertained (and better than handing over your smart phone, any day).
The details were a joy to put together and customise with whatever scraps of fabric I had to hand.
See, I told you that bag full of two-inch scraps would come in handy one day. I can’t throw any fabric out, no matter how minuscule the leftovers.
The teeny tiny tea set could have Velcro on the back for an older child, to make it removeable. As this was for a toddler, I sewed them to the table permanently.
Some of the bits were embroidered by hand….
….and others were stitched on by machine.
Dolly herself also has a dress and some hair bows, but those will have to follow in the post as I didn’t have time to make them before we visited.
Here’s the bed which is open for the doll to get in. She even has a little removeable pillow.
Of course, she needs a bedside rug to step out onto.
A bedside table has open-topped drawers to store those hair bows, and a little lamp.
I added a last minute dog in its basket, for added fun. Kids love things that ‘do’ something, don’t they?
The bathroom had some lovely details, like the bubbles and towel rail. I embroidered the tap using metallic gold thread to make it more realistic.
Once everything had been sewn on, it was just a case of attaching the front to the back and then turning it right side out.
Roof on, handles added.
Isn’t that just the cutest front door?
So, the house opens up and lays flat for play, like this: –
To close it, you simply fold the side in…..
….fold the bottom up to meet the top and then fasten the popper.
It transforms quickly and easily into a ‘bag’ with carry handles – simple enough for any toddler to use without help.
The iron test is, of course, if the girl in question actually likes it.
March 10, 2017 at 10:41 am
OMGOODNESS isn’t that just the cutest toy around ???? I simply adore it .
Brilliant interpretation and you got to use up some valuable scraps LOL
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March 10, 2017 at 10:48 am
I’m still a little bit in love with it and am glad I have a granddaughter as the perfect excuse to make another one! I might have to come up with a boy’s version – how do Knights in a castle sound?
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March 12, 2017 at 8:28 am
A boys version would be amazing ~ I’m sure many a mom/granny would love to recreate it for the mini man in their lives …bring you creation to life Mrs Sewchet 🙂
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July 4, 2023 at 11:23 pm
What about a zoo, or auto race track and garage something like cars? My sister in law made a town with roads a lake for boats train station, different buildings it was vegas just not the cascinos Morse of a kids vegas there house, the lake where daddy works, and mom this was laid out on yardage of green felt and used with matchbox cars boats planes and train oh I forgot to mention the airport. And a gas station with a pump that had a shoe lace for the pump that was the plastic piece for the nosel after her son outgrew it she sent it to me, I. Sent it back after her son married and she had her first grandson, it came back to me for my grand son I had it then for many years, I had to bring my grandson to work with me I brought the matt and the bucket of matchbox vehicles, which were collected over the years, I was lucky to work at a place where children were welcome As long as they did not disrupt the office I laid out the matt, sat the bucket down on the floor and I didn’t here a peep until someone said lunch time do you want to. Order in of course my little sweetiesa said Mc Donald’s cheeseburger Happy eat please. I said if that’s what everyone wants Get a list and Ill go. That matt was great, sure kept the kids busy and the imagination going which is something kids don’t use today I like the post ability of these houses and the use oh a person or animal the fits right inside it’s easy for even the toddlers to manuver. And can be used at a restaurant while waiting for food? It’s easy to pick up and fold away when the food comes, also on car trips a little lap tray open the house up and hours of play, it’s nice for the little ones to have something to occupied their time. Colorforms worked for my kids we did just about all of our trips by car and it was not unusual to drive10-12hours in a day. I needed to find things to keep the kids happy and not saying are we there yet or how much further. Just being kids and board, heck so was I one year thanks to parents magazine I red a traveling with children article which suggested getting items to keep children busy, rap up the items abnd had out only if they are being good worked great! My son was 3years older so for him I got a tablet of mad libs a new cassete. He spent most of the trip with his headphones on and the introduction of auto bingo a family favorite a book of games, hang man, license plate game I found pocket kites for both they did love that game but had to keep it close to the window I’d hate to litter the highway if the string broke and the more line they let out the more spin on the line causing the break. So here is my list of keep um busy travel compainons, If you think of any FP little tikes toys, model a felt bag after that we had the castle, lots of fun it even had Robbin hood, a draw bridge horse and coach, I’d love one I can either be on the ball and make these houses put them away and wait for my first Great grand child or as gifts for a new baby, with a note you’ll really love this when it’s toddler time. I see this being used every day on planes trains and car rides in the doctors office, , I know its toddler fun but I bet your 6yr old granddaughter would love this she enjoys playing with a doll house. A person cold design each house differently perhaps around a different story, goldylocks and the three bears, if it’s inside is felt and the furniture is felt it would be much like a flannel board story , little red ridding hood would be an fairly easy one to put to get her, I’m trying to come up with the 3little pigs, instead of different rooms in each house a different house in each flap, little red ridding hood, and others once you have the basic design, it’s just your imagination on the further design, ok so by now you must have guessed that I’ve worked with toddlers in day care centers as well as my home.
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March 10, 2017 at 10:47 am
Wow! This is really something. Love it, and I am sure it will have lots of play value….
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March 10, 2017 at 10:49 am
How I would have loved one of these as a child – makes a change from hauling around colouring pens and paper all the time.
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March 10, 2017 at 11:03 am
This is gorgeous. I love the details – the little towel through the towel holder really gets me! I’m disappointed you didn’t use your gold thread to embroider koi carp on the bathroom wall a la maison H-L though 😉
Your scrap bin must be enormous – I also have lots of scraps but I try not to keep anything under around a 2″ square otherwise it would be madness.
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March 11, 2017 at 10:15 am
You’re very observant – madness does reign supreme in this household. I’d finished the doll’s house and gifted it before I’d even looked at wallpapers, otherwise gold Koi might actually have found their way into it! If I hadn’t left it to the last minute (there’s a theme here…) I would have added lots more details to the house. Ah well, there’s always next time.
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March 10, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Now that is super cute! I love all the little details. They remind me of paper dolls when I was a child. You are such a whiz at the sewing machine!
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March 11, 2017 at 10:16 am
Thanks Robin, I know what you mean about the paper dolls – how much fun could a girl have?!
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March 10, 2017 at 7:12 pm
What a fabulous gift! If I had some babies around I’d be knocking these out like crazy, heck I’d be right in there playing with it too. Imagine if it had a kitchen and another bedroom – you could make a whole family 🙂 Yes, yes, a knight in a castle – most fabulous!! ❤
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March 11, 2017 at 10:18 am
There’s always the next one – I keep thinking of things I could add for more play value, but it seems to be a huge success even as it is. A kitchen is a must for another one, I agree, and maybe a garden on the back?
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March 11, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Oh yes – of course a garden! 🙂 Though it may become such a huge project it may never get finished! 🙂
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March 10, 2017 at 11:11 pm
That’s pretty nifty. I think you could get one more ‘room’ on the back side of the tearoom. Looks like it will get lots of use. 🙂
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March 11, 2017 at 10:19 am
It’s such a good idea, isn’t it? Maybe a garden on the back of the tearoom next time?
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March 11, 2017 at 8:12 am
That is so adorable!!! Especially those windows, with their tiny curtains!
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March 11, 2017 at 10:20 am
The details are so well thought out, although I have ideas of what I might add to the next one I make. Another room seems to be a popular idea, on the back of the tearoom – maybe a garden?
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March 11, 2017 at 3:14 pm
This is absolutely adorable! I love the amount of detail it has – makes it even more special 😀
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March 14, 2017 at 7:00 pm
The details are what drew me to it in the first place – it’s a well thought out design, that’s for sure!
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March 11, 2017 at 8:31 pm
Definitely a winner. It’s a brilliant idea, beautifully executed. So much better than a smart phone!
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March 14, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Thanks so much! I really would rather see kids playing with anything other than an electronic device!
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March 12, 2017 at 2:36 am
SO so cute!!! I just love it, and all your added details! ❤ I may need to try to make one for my little!
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March 14, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Oh you must – she’d love it! Even if you can’t get the magazine, it’s easy enough to work out how it’s made:)
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March 12, 2017 at 10:36 am
OMG seriously adorable, I want to make one right now. I was addicted to paper dolls when I was little and I do wonder if that started my love for clothing or if I was just wired that way, nature or nurtue, whatever, when I see creativity like this It still gives me a buzz.
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March 14, 2017 at 7:03 pm
I know, it’s the kind of project you just HAVE to make – I was lucky enough to have a little girl in the family to make one for, but I think I would have made one regardless!
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March 17, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Ah this is so lovely and has totally inspired me to make one for my nephew’s second birthday in May. I’ve managed to track down a back copy of Mollie Makes and am all set to make a boy’s version – thank you! x
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March 22, 2024 at 1:40 pm
we’re do you get the pattern book
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